Adjustable measuring device and method

ABSTRACT

A measuring device and method for measuring a volume of a gel-like, powder-like or liquid-like material is provided by defining a desired volume of the material, moving a peripheral measuring edge of a longitudinal inner member along an inside wall of a longitudinal outer member to the desired volume corresponding to an indicator indicated at one of a plurality of measurement positioning stops, filling the material in the longitudinal outer member on top of the longitudinal inner member, moving the peripheral measuring edge of the longitudinal inner member to a second measurement positioning stop, and releasing the material out of the longitudinal outer member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent applicationNo. 60/494,177, filed Aug. 11, 2003; the subject matter of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a measuring device andmethod, and more particularly, to an adjustable measuring device andmethod for measuring a precise amount of material and readily releasingthe material from the measuring device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Measuring devices, such as measuring cups, have been known for a longtime. An adjustable measuring device, such as the one disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,488,432, issued to the same inventor, is incorporatedherewith by reference. It is desirable to have an improved adjustablemeasuring device and method for measuring a precise amount of materialas well as readily releasing the material from the measuring device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved adjustable measuring devicewith enhanced measuring precision and material releasing capability.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable measuringdevice for measuring and releasing a volume of a gel-like, powder-like,and liquid-like material, comprises a longitudinal outer member and alongitudinal inner member sliding along an inside wall of thelongitudinal outer member. A plurality of measurement positioning stopsor lugs disposed on the inside wall of the longitudinal outer member.The stops represent a variety of measurement units.

Still in one embodiment, the longitudinal inner member comprises aperipheral measuring edge projecting from a first peripheral edge of thelongitudinal inner member and a peripheral extension member projectingfrom a second peripheral edge of the longitudinal inner member.

Further in one embodiment, the peripheral measuring edge is positionedat each of the stops for measuring the volume of the material. Theperipheral extension member engages with the inner wall of thelongitudinal outer member and is made of a material firm enough to fitbetween the stops for measurement and also flexible enough to smoothlymove along the inner wall of the longitudinal outer member. Accordingly,the extra residual material disposed on the inside wall of thelongitudinal outer member is squeezed and released by the peripheralextension member of the longitudinal inner member. Therefore, a preciseamount of material is measured and released from the measuring device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of measuring avolume of a gel-like, powder-like or liquid-like material comprises thesteps of: defining a desired volume of the material; moving a peripheralmeasuring edge of a longitudinal inner member along an inside wall of alongitudinal outer member to the desired volume corresponding to anindicator indicated at one of a plurality of measurement positioningstops; filling the material in the longitudinal outer member on top ofthe longitudinal inner member; moving the peripheral measuring edge ofthe longitudinal inner member to a second measurement positioning stop;and releasing the material out of the longitudinal outer member.

In one embodiment, the indicators represent different volumes of thematerial, such as 2 cups, ½ cup, or other measuring units.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, wherein it is shown and described illustrative embodimentsof the invention, including best modes contemplated for carrying out theinvention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable ofmodifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings anddetailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of anadjustable measuring device in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of alongitudinal inner member of an adjustable measuring device inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an improved adjustable measuring devicewith enhanced measuring precision and material releasing capability. InFIG. 1, one embodiment of an adjustable measuring device 100 is providedto measure and release a volume of a gel-like, powder-like, andliquid-like material 102. The measuring device 100 includes alongitudinal outer member 104 and a longitudinal inner member 106sliding along an inside wall 108 of the longitudinal outer member 104. Aplurality of measurement positioning stops or lugs 110 a-110 h disposedon the inside wall 108 of the longitudinal outer member 104. The stopsor lugs 110 a-110 h represent a variety of measurement stats, e.g. 2½cups 110 a, 2 cups 110 b, 1½ cups 110 c, 1 cup 110 d, ½ cup 110 e, ⅓ cup110 f, ¼ cup 110 g, and 0 cup (i.e. release stop or lug) 110 h. It isappreciated to a person skilled in the art that any other suitablemeasuring units can be used within the scope of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the longitudinal inner member 106 includes aperipheral measuring edge 112 projecting from a first peripheral edge114 of the longitudinal inner member 106 and a peripheral extensionmember 116 projecting from a second peripheral edge 118 of thelongitudinal inner member 106.

In FIG. 1, the peripheral measuring edge 112 is positioned at each ofthe stops 110 a-110 h for measuring the volume of the material 102. Theperipheral extension member 116 engages with the inner wall 108 of thelongitudinal outer member 104 and is made of a material firm enough tofit between the stops for measurement and also flexible enough tosmoothly move along the inner wall 108 of the longitudinal outer member104. Accordingly, the extra residual material disposed on the insidewall 108 of the longitudinal outer member 104 is squeezed and releasedby the peripheral extension member 116 of the longitudinal inner member106. Therefore, a precise amount of material is measured and releasedfrom the measuring device 100.

In operation of the present invention, a user first decides a desiredvolume of a gel-like, powder-like or liquid-like material to bemeasured, then moves the peripheral measuring edge 116 of thelongitudinal inner member 106 along the inside wall 108 of thelongitudinal outer member 104 to the desired volume corresponding to anindicator at one of the plurality of measurement positioning stops orlugs 110 a-110 g; filling the material 102 in the longitudinal outermember 104 on top 120 of the longitudinal inner member 106; moving theperipheral measuring edge 114 of the longitudinal inner member 106 to asecond measurement positioning stop or lug 110 b-110 h; and releasingthe material 102 out of the longitudinal outer member 104.

The indicators represent different volumes of the material 102, such as2 cups, ½ cup, or any other measuring units as discussed above.

The longitudinal inner member 106 also includes a grip or handle portion122 for the user to grip, pull and/or push the longitudinal inner member106 along the inner wall 108 of the longitudinal outer member 104 of thedevice 100, as well as to rotate the longitudinal inner member 106 inand out of the various stops or lugs 110 a-110 h.

From the above description and drawings, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that the particular embodiments shown anddescribed are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from its spirit or essentialcharacteristics. References to details of particular embodiments are notintended to limit the scope of the invention.

1. An adjustable measuring device for measuring and releasing a volumeof a gel-like, powder-like, and liquid-like material, comprising: alongitudinal outer member; a longitudinal inner member sliding along aninside wall of the longitudinal outer member; a plurality of measurementpositioning stops disposed on the inside wall of the longitudinal outermember, wherein the stops represent a variety of measurement units;wherein the longitudinal inner member includes a peripheral measuringedge projecting from a first peripheral edge of the longitudinal innermember and a peripheral extension member projecting from a secondperipheral edge of the longitudinal inner member; and wherein thematerial is filled on top of the longitudinal inner member within theinside wall of the longitudinal outer member, the longitudinal innermember is moved from the first stop to the second stop along the insidewall of the longitudinal outer member, whereby the volume of thematerial is measured and released from the measuring device.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the peripheral extension member engages withthe inner wall of the longitudinal outer member and is made of amaterial firm enough to fit between the stops for measurement and alsoflexible enough to smoothly move along the inner wall of thelongitudinal outer member.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein extraresidual material disposed on the inside wall of the longitudinal outermember is squeezed and released by the peripheral extension member ofthe longitudinal inner member, whereby a precise amount of material ismeasured and released from the measuring device.
 4. The device of claim3, wherein the longitudinal inner member includes a handle portion for auser to move the longitudinal inner member along the inner wall androtate the longitudinal inner member in and out of the stops.
 5. Amethod of measuring a volume of a gel-like, powder-like or liquid-likematerial, comprising the steps of: defining a desired volume of thematerial; moving a peripheral measuring edge of a longitudinal innermember along an inside wall of a longitudinal outer member to thedesired volume corresponding to an indicator indicated at one of aplurality of measurement positioning stops; filling the material in thelongitudinal outer member on top of the longitudinal inner member;moving the peripheral measuring edge of the longitudinal inner member toa second measurement positioning stop; and releasing the material out ofthe longitudinal outer member.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theindicators represent different volumes of the material.